I mentioned last time that Luther’s life is central to reading his theology. His thinking, while remarkably consistent, does develop over time. He nuances his positions on various issues as he faces challenges which his own Reformation theology generated. Thus, knowing what issues he is facing and when is important when reading him.
The benchmark biography of Luther in English is the three volumes by the German historian, Martin Brecht. These look rather forbidding: nearly 1400 pages of text, excluding notes. Nevertheless, the translation is very readable and the narrative moves at a good pace, such that the reader’s interest is maintained and the basic storyline remains very clear.
For those with less time to spare, there is the classic biography by Roland Bainton, Here I Stand. It was my first introduction to the Reformation and remains a favourite. Bainton was a radical thinker himself, not doctrinally sympathetic to Luther but rather emotionally so: he knew what it was like to be a beleaguered outside, a man at war with his times. Thus, he writes on Luther with considerable passion.
A more recent short biography is that by the distinguished Lutheran historian, Martin Marty, in the Penguin Brief Lives series. This is fun too: well-written and peppered with little anecdotes of Luther’s personal life.
To these I would also add Robert Kolb’s Martin Luther: Confessor of the Faith, a relatively short but learned and extremely informative introduction to Luther’s life and major theological contributions.
Readers should also consult Heiko Oberman’s Luther: Man between God and Devil for an example of a brilliant, if at times speculative, account of Luther’s life by the most significant Reformation scholar of the last fifty years.
You can read the whole thing here, which also includes recommended reading from Luther himself and by others on his theology.
